updated 6:24 p.m. ET April 3, 2006

ALBANY, N.Y. - When lawyers, doctors and captains of industry step into the boxing ring, they like to mix it up a little, sometimes in front of ticket-buying friends and family.

They’re not overly fond, though, of lost fights, black eyes or getting knocked cold. And since they pay for the privilege, white-collar boxing has evolved to limit such unpleasantness with short bouts and referees quick to intervene. Often there’s no decision. Everybody’s a winner.

Even so, the New York State Athletic Commission last November banned white-collar boxing shows, which occupy a gray area between licensed professional and sanctioned amateur bouts. One influential lawmaker’s staff is drafting legislation to move it into the realm of regulated sporting events, which normally require physical exams for athletes and a doctor at ringside.

“Anything having to do with safety is fine with me,” said Bruce Silverglade, owner of the famed Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn. He said white-collar boxing began there in the 1980s with executives wanting a workout. Now they account for about 400 of nearly 1,000 members and about 300 of them actually hit each other — wearing headgear, big gloves and mouthpieces while being watched by trainers.

“Some of these fellows are CEOs. They’re attorneys. They’re doctors. They’re big shots in industry. They have big egos,” Silverglade said. “They have one of these contests and lose, you don’t see them anymore.”

And not all of them are fellows. Since the film “Million Dollar Baby,” more young women have been attracted to the sport.

Amy Bridges, a mother of four, leaves her Greenwich, Conn., home on Saturday mornings to box. She started kickboxing 10 years ago, boxing three years ago, then came to Gleason’s to start sparring.

Slideshow   The Week in Sports Pictures The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more. more photos

She’s sparred with retired champs such as Emile Griffith and Carlos Ortiz, got Hector Roca as a trainer, and boxed on five white-collar cards.

“How fun was that? Talk about getting to be cheered on by your buddies in the gym and just get that feeling for what it’s really like to be a boxer. They told me I had such glee I had to stop giggling,” Bridges said. “Where do you have a chance to be involved in sports like this when you’re 50?”

Gleason’s monthly white-collar shows were drawing 100 to 125 people paying $15 a ticket to see a dozen bouts until they were banned last November. Silverglade said if all they did was hit punching bags, people would get bored and move on to something else.

“It’s like saying if you take up golf you’ll never be able to play in a golf tournament,” said trainer David Lawrence, who boxed in Gleason’s first white-collar show more than 15 years ago.

More news

MIKE SEGAR / Reuters

Pekingese favored to be top dog

Robins: It’s the Year of the Dragon on the Lunar calendar, and this Chinese influence could extend to it also being the year of the Pekingese on the green carpet at the 136th Westminster Dog Show on Tuesday.

NY cable dispute blacks out Knicks, 4 NHL teams

NEW YORK (AP) - As the glow fades from the Giants' Super Bowl triumph, some New York sports fans are tuning in to basketball and hockey, with the Rangers in first place and the Knicks' overnight sensation, Jeremy Lin, sparking "Lin-sanity.''

Mary Altaffer / AP

Six new breeds will join show at Westminster

Robins: This year, six new breeds will be making their debut on the green carpet for the Westminster Dog Show, which begins Monday.

Headlines

• Label

Dogs set to take a bow, try to wow at Westminster

Wagging tails replace sad eyes in Westminster ads

  Slideshow: Top images from 2011 Dog Show

Ali among hundreds attending Dundee funeral

Judge tosses suit by boxer Gatti's daughter

PHT: Accused Ukranian hockey coach found dead in cell

UFC's Nick Diaz fails drug test, faces suspension

Jurors in lacrosse trial view police interview